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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
nursing care; assisted living; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers (NCIA Board) for two years.
Background
The NCIA Board regulates nursing care institution administrators and assisted living facility managers in Arizona. The NCIA Board duties include: 1) adopting rules for licensing and certifying qualified applicants; 2) conducting examinations to determine applicant qualification; 3) adopting application, certification and examination fees; 4) conducting investigations or administrative hearings in response to complaints; 5) prescribing standards for assisted living facility training programs; and 6) reporting to the Legislature (A.R.S. § 36-446.03).
The NCIA Board consists of eleven members appointed by the Governor including: 1) one administrator who holds an active license in nursing care institution administration; 2) one manager who holds an active license in assisted living facility management; 3) one administrator of a nonprofit or faith-based skilled nursing facility; 4) one administrator of a proprietary skilled nursing facility; 5) two managers of an assisted living center; 6) one manager of an assisted living home; 7) two public members who are not affiliated with a nursing care institution or an assisted living facility; 8) one public member who represents an organization that advocates for the elderly; and 9) one person who is a family member of a resident in either a skilled nursing facility or an assisted living facility at the time the person is appointed to the NCIA Board (A.R.S. § 36-446.02).
Laws 2021, Chapter 409 created the Nursing Care Institution and Assisted Living Facility Study Committee (Committee) to: 1) consider whether the NCIA Board should be administered independently, or the duties should be moved to the Department of Health Services or another successor agency or licensing board; 2) review and discuss the statutes related to felony disclosure; 3) discuss and research best practices to administer licenses; 4) receive updates by the Office of the Auditor General on NCIA Board compliance with recommendations and from the NCIA Board Director on operational changes; 5) identify any additional efficiencies to make the NCIA Board more responsive to the public and its licensees; and 6) review best practices relating to investigating complaints (Laws 2021, Ch. 409). On November 19, 2021, the Committee made the recommendation that the NCIA Board continue to operate as an independent entity (Study Committee Final Report).
The NCIA Board is set to terminate on March 31, 2022, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. § 41-3022.26).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Continues, retroactive to March 31, 2022, the NCIA Board until July 1, 2024.
2. Repeals the NCIA Board on January 1, 2025.
3. Contains a purpose statement.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 31, 2022
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